Run: 2026-10-08-01M4DA8J913N3X8YC5HJYTBJ47

"Okay, here's the plan," Molly whispered, tapping a crumpled diagram of the backyard. "We wait for the cake. The second those kids see frosting, they stop screaming and sit down. That's our window." "Our window is forty seconds," Bill said. "I timed it at my nephew's party last spring." "You've been to a children's party?" "I was the piñata. Long story. Nobody should have to be a piñata, Molly." She ignored him and squinted through the hedge. "Okay, what's the security situation?" "One clown. Possibly two. Hard to tell with the wigs." "Clowns aren't security, Bill." "That one's got a whistle and a clipboard. He's security." "Fine. Where are the presents?" "Stacked on the porch table, under a sign that says *Do Not Open Until Gavin's Birthday.*" "Gavin's birthday is today, Bill. Gavin is the one in the dinosaur hat." "Right. So technically we're stealing from Gavin." "Gavin's six." "Gavin's six and he has six presents from a pony. We're doing the kid a favor. He'll learn about the value of letting go." Molly sighed and checked her watch. "Alright. You grab the big boxes, I take the wrapped ones with the bows. Nothing with batteries. Batteries make noise." "What about the tiny ones? Those could be jewelry." "Those could be a whistle. Leave them." "Molly, the one with the gold paper is definitely a watch." "Gold paper means nothing. Remember the Hendersons' anniversary?" "Don't bring up the Hendersons." "Forty-five minutes of fondue for a bag of ceramic owls." "Owls are underrated." A shriek erupted from the yard. Somebody had dropped a sparkler. "Cake's coming out," Bill hissed. "Go, go, go!" "Wait, you said the cake was forty seconds!" "I said the window was forty seconds. The cake is the window!" They bolted from the hedge, Bill with a wobbly stack of boxes, Molly with a bow-covered shoebox tucked under her arm. Halfway across the lawn, the clown turned around, raised his whistle, and blew it with tremendous enthusiasm. "Keep moving," Molly said. "He's going to chase us," Bill panted. "He's a clown, Bill. Clowns can't run. It's in their contract." The clown wheezed, flapped his oversized shoes, and immediately tripped over the bouncy castle.